Electric work vehicle

Abstract

An electric work vehicle includes an electric motor capable of driving a body to travel, a battery to supply electric power to drive to the electric motor, the battery being chargeable by an external power supply device, a temperature detector to detect a temperature of the battery, and a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the electric motor and control a state of charging performed by the power supply device. In response to charging being performed by the power supply device, the controller is configured or programmed to set a target charging current in a state where work travel is possible after charging, based on a detected value of the temperature detector and a preset setting condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric work vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor to drive a body of the electric work vehicle to travel;   a battery to supply electric power to the electric motor, the battery being chargeable by an external power supply device;   a temperature detector to detect a temperature of the battery; and   a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the electric motor and control a state of charging performed by the power supply device; wherein   in response to charging being performed by the power supply device, the controller is configured or programmed to set a target charging current in such a manner as to enable work travel after charging, based on a detected value of the temperature detector and a preset setting condition.   
     
     
         2 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein as the setting condition, the controller is configured or programmed to set, in advance, a correlation between a temperature rise of the battery that is predicted to occur accompanying work travel after charging and a target charging current corresponding to an allowable temperature rise of the battery due to charging. 
     
     
         3 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein in response to work travel being performed, the controller is configured or programmed to stop operation of the electric motor in response to the temperature of the battery detected by the temperature detector exceeding an allowable upper limit temperature, or execute a used power suppression process to reduce drive output of the electric motor, and set the correlation in a manner such that even if a temperature rise occurs accompanying work travel after charging, the temperature of the battery is reduced to a temperature according to which the used power suppression process is not executed. 
     
     
         4 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a work device is attachable to and detachable from the body of the electric work vehicle; and   the controller is configured or programmed to set the target charging current to a different value depending on whether or not the work device is attached.   
     
     
         5 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the work device includes a work device controller;   
       the work device controller and the controller are configured or programmed to communicate information with each other; and
 the controller is configured or programmed to determine a type of the attached work device based on identification information transmitted from the work device controller, and set the target charging current depending on the type. 
 
     
     
         6 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein an outside of the battery is covered in a hermetically-sealed state by a storage case. 
     
     
         7 . An electric work vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor to drive a body of the electric work vehicle to travel;   a battery to supply electric power to the electric motor, the battery being chargeable by an external power supply device;   a connection portion to which a power supply connector of the power supply device is connectable;   a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the electric motor and control a state of charging performed by the power supply device; and   a start command switch to switch the controller to an operable state by being operated manually while a portable operation key is near the body or while the operation key is attached to an attachment portion; wherein   the controller is configured or programmed to be switched to a charging mode in response to being in the operable state and in a connection state where the power supply connector is connected to the connection portion; and   in the charging mode, the power supply device performs charging, and after charging by the power supply device is started, the power supply device continues to perform charging even if the operation key is separated from the body or the operation key is removed from the attachment portion.   
     
     
         8 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to switch to the charging mode upon being switched to the operable state while the power supply connector is connected to the connection portion. 
     
     
         9 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 7 , wherein in response to the power supply device continuing to perform charging after the operation key is separated from the body or after the operation key is removed from the attachment portion, the controller is configured or programmed to automatically switch to a non-operating state in response to charging being completed. 
     
     
         10 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 7 , wherein the operation key is insertable into an insertion portion defining the attachment portion. 
     
     
         11 . An electric work vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor to drive a body of the electric work vehicle to travel;   a battery to supply electric power to drive to the electric motor, the battery being chargeable by an external power supply device;   a connection portion to which a power supply connector of the power supply device is connectable; and   a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the electric motor and control a state of charging performed by the power supply device; wherein   the controller is configured or programmed to prohibit movement of the body during a charging operation in a period from when charging of the battery by the power supply device is started while the power supply connector is connected to the connection portion, until charging of the battery is completed.   
     
     
         12 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to not drive the electric motor during the charging operation. 
     
     
         13 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein
 electric power from the battery is supplied to the electric motor via an inverter; and   during the charging operation, the controller is configured or programmed to stop driving of the electric motor by stopping output to the inverter.   
     
     
         14 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein
 motive power of the electric motor is transmitted to a body travel device via a travel clutch; and   during the charging operation, the controller is configured or programmed to not engage the travel clutch even if a command to engage the travel clutch is issued.   
     
     
         15 . The electric work vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein
 a work device is attachable to and detachable from the body;   motive power of the electric motor is transmitted to the work device via a work clutch; and   during the charging operation, the controller is configured or programmed to not engage the work clutch even if a command to engage the work clutch is issued.